Most of us work sitting in-front of a computer all day. If you work in an office, you probably don’t walk to work and if you work from home you are probably less than 20 feet away from a fridge.  Many of us make excuses for why we don’t eat healthy or work-out (myself included), and it’s really not excusable. There is no more time for excuses. Period.

Sure in this modern work environment, diet & health pitfalls are everywhere. Blame it on convenience food (easy to get & fun to eat), after-work drinks & social eating, kids requiring too much energy that you are just too exhausted at the end of the day, too many fun games to play/tv shows to watch… there is no time to fit in a shower much less exercise right? WRONG… these are excuses cause you know just as well as I do that you can MAKE time for ANYTHING you REALLY want in life!

It’s a Matter of How Bad You Want It…

Until recently, I made every excuse in the book for the past 4 years which including how I had 2 C-sections (scars have to heal – even though my youngest is almost 3), or my dad was too good of a cook (he’s a retired chef & makes my meals) or I don’t have time (running a business is hard!) or it’s not about exercise, I will just eat less (right, like that will work…ha!). So many excuses, I was tired of hearing myself so I started saying ‘I have no excuses…”.

So that’s it, no more excuses!  I decided, after a Thanksgiving weekend of over-indulgence that I am ready to take charge of my own body once and for good. It is the one thing I have never been able to truly master, and I want to do this for myself. I had enough, and I am ready for change.

Are you ready to make a healthy lifestyle change? 
You have to be ready first mentally. Before you can get yourself up and motivated, you need to get your mind right first. When you can’t live another day being a certain way, that is when change happens. (Thank you Dr.Phil) If you are not mentally prepared, you are very likely going to fail in anything that you do. It’s the truth… give it a week, maybe even two, but eventually old habits kick in and you will nestle back to your comfort zone and before you know it a year has went by and you can no longer wear cute designer jeans that you paid $400 for or worse yet, you look like a muffin. (Take it from me, I’ve been to both places!)

How to get mentally ready for change?

• Envision what you want and manifest it’s reality. Vision boards are great! Yes even, digital ones count!
• Give it time. If you are still singing the same tune a year from today… most likely it’s something you really want.
• Figure out your motivations are behind why you want to do it.
• Find inspiration for your new change… research it!
• Get to place where you can’t live another day without change.
• Get a jumpstart… you can’t start a fire without a spark!

Motivations
List your motivations of why you want a healthy kick in the butt. This is very important because if you can align WHY you are doing to WHAT you are doing, you are more likely to stay on track.

Some motivations may include something like:

• Fit into your old jeans
• Big event coming up (high school reunion, wedding)
• Live longer to play with your children (Doctors orders)
• Get more energy
• Impress a girl/guy (/my readers… I am blogging this so please hold me accountable!)

No Shame in the Game
It’s really important to just be very honest with what your motivations are. Sure having more energy or living longer is fantastic reasons / motivators to lose weight but for me personally I just want to be the hottest CEO I can be and if I am *too unhealthy* I can’t fit the clothes I want to wear. Call it vain, whatever, but if it gets me moving, then it’s all good!

(Not proud, but not ashamed either) This quote works for me… As horrible as it is:

It’s not about being skinny, it’s about being healthy… yeah, yeah I get it! But having this on your fridge will definitely stop you from eating that cake, I promise you that! Whatever inspires you to stay on track, use it.

My Techie Lifestyle Plan in a Nutshell:

• Before you go to work or sit down at a computer, do 15-30 minutes of cardio exercise. If you walk to work, great… if you can go on a run before your shower, great!
• If you simply can’t do/miss doing the above… you must make it up somehow during the day.
• Drink lots of water. Do not drink any other liquids if you can help it. Caffeine is not good for you. Never drink juices unless you juice fresh yourself.
• Limit your sugar intake to zero if possible. No donuts or candy. Sorry.
• Don’t order specialty sugary coffees at Starbucks.
• Have healthy snacks on-hand so when you are hungry throughout the day you have options. It’s not about being perfect it’s about consistently making good choices. It will save you some money too.
• Do a 5-10 minute stretch at your desk every 3 hours. Arms, neck, legs… get your blood circulating.
• Leave the office for lunch. Don’t eat at your desk.
• Eat whatever you want for dinner just nothing processed or fried. Eat live foods & lots of veggies.
• Drink alcohol only on weekends.
• Before bed do 3 sets of 25 reps of: pushups, dips, sit-ups, squats, lunges… get some barbells.
• Get a good night sleep (min. 6 hours – 8 hours is best)
  

Notes:

• Jump start your plan with a cleanse. I did the Wild Rose one and it was awesome! Highly recommended & easy to follow as a diet plan afterwards.
• Don’t be hard on yourself if you fall short, just start again the next day.
• Add extra activities such as going to the gym or fit in some leg lifts while doing dishes. Anytime u can get yourself to be more active is an opportunity to get one-step ahead.
• It’s not about weight… I never weigh myself if I can help it. Judge by seeing how you feel and how your clothes fit.
• Buy work-out clothes that fit and the most comfy shoes you can find regardless of cost.
• Don’t have cheat days…this is about lifestyle. You don’t want to get back into old habits by thinking you are on a diet. If you can’t handle it, then you are not mentally ready and cheat day or not, you are not going to succeed in the long-term anyhow. (I know many people will argue this, but I personally believe that if you are craving gross food on cheat days, maybe you are not making good choices every day anyhow. If you eat healthy, foods that greasy, loaded with sugar or not good for you shouldn’t be appealing) 
• Don’t listen to other people when they say you are fat or that you already look good and don’t need to exercise/diet. They don’t know your bad habits and it’s not about them anyhow… it’s about you and your own goals. You don’t have to tell the whole world you are on a diet, because you are not… you are changing your lifestyle… hopefully forever!
• Join a support group of others on the same mission.

Be Kind to Yourself

Change your life one small step and one decision at a time. Always aim to be your best, and never settle for less than remarkable…especially when it comes to yourself!

Until next time, keep smiling…

mind – body – spirit – work – life – balance